We are pleased to announce the first edition of the VIB Conference ‘Tumor heterogeneity, plasticity and therapy’. This international conference will take place Q1 or Q2 2021 (date to be confirmed soon) in the beautiful historic city of Leuven.
Tumors are complex and evolving ecosystems composed of a wide variety of cell types, in addition to the cancer cells themselves. Increasing evidence indicates that the bi-directional interplay between tumor cells and their tumor microenvironment shape tumor evolution and therapy resistance.
Within a tumor, many cancer cells differ from each at the (epi-)genomic, transcriptional and proteomic level, as well as phenotypically and functionally. Tumor heterogeneity represents a major hurdle for therapy, which may only target a subset of tumor cells. In addition, cancer cell plasticity permits rapidly adaption to therapeutics and development of tolerance and resistance, presenting additional challenges for both targeted and immunotherapies.
During this conference a range of world leaders from academia and industry will discuss the latest developments in basic research, translational and clinical research and therapeutic avenues, in the following sessions:
- Plasticity in initiation, progression and metastasis
- Heterogeneity and reprogramming of the tumor immune- and microenvironment
- Adaptation and resistance to targeted therapies
- Adaptation and resistance to immunotherapies
